Carbajal: ‘Cyborg’ Upgraded

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those
of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company,
Evolve Media.

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The Internet is a great source for quick information, but it can
also be a den for trolling, insults and bullying. It seems that no
matter what Cristiane
Justino accomplishes, she will always be criticized for what is
perceived to be a minus to her many pluses. In the UFC
219 main event on Saturday in Las Vegas, the powerful “Cyborg”
showed she could be patient and cerebral against the most skilled
women in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight division.

Before she faced Holly Holm in
the final UFC event of 2017, it looked to be a fairly even matchup.
The argument could have been made that Holm on paper held the edge
in the striking department because of her extensive background as a
pro boxer. “Cyborg” appeared the have the advantages in the clinch
and grappling departments, with the ability to hunt for takedowns,
work some ground-and-pound or even sink a submission -- a weakness
in Holm’s game that had been exposed before. That is not what
happened.

Instead, fans saw Holm force the Brazilian into the clinch against
the cage. What was more surprising was the fact that Justino
thoroughly outstruck the former boxing champion and shut down
doubts about her ability to go five rounds to defend her title.
“Cyborg” never even attempted a takedown, choosing instead to
explore her advantages in the standup. While Holm bloodied
Justino’s nose, the Brazilian did considerably more damage and was
well-prepared for Holm’s patented left high kick, blocking it
virtually every time it was thrown. “Cyborg” showed unusual
patience in her first title defense and admitted that she decided
to forego any takedown attempts in the clinch because Holm felt too
slippery. Plus, she was enjoying considerable success while
striking.

Justino showed no signs of slowing down, as her cardio held up
against a mobile challenger with excellent footwork. “Cyborg” kept
up with the
Jackson-Wink MMA standout and won the overwhelming majority of
striking exchanges; and if Holm’s bid to initiate clinches was
designed to fatigue the champion, her plans went south early on.
Justino never seemed concerned about being on the fence. Holm
deserves credit for trying to find alternate routes to victory and
for being the only woman to go five rounds with someone as dominant
as “Cyborg.”

The 32-year-old Justino has won the Strikeforce,
Invicta Fighting Championships and UFC featherweight titles,
and she has successfully defended them all. In a sport where
greatest-of-all-time conversations spring up on an almost daily
basis, “Cyborg” in 2017 cemented her status as the greatest female
fighter of all-time. Even when she cut well below her walk-around
weight to enter the UFC, she dominated her opposition. No one is
perfect, but it in 2018, maybe Justino will get the long-overdue
respect she deserves.

Edward Carbajal serves as the lead MMA analyst for Frontproof Media and
holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brown belt in Ishin
Ryu Karate. He has covered combat sports since 2014 and has been a
fan of MMA since UFC 1. You can follow him on Twitter @Carbazel or at his website
TheBlogBoardJungle.com.